Presentation: It was poured from a brown 12 oz bottle into a pint glass. The label has a freshness date but no abv. Appearance: The body has a very dark reddish brown color which appears almost black in the glass. The head on top is tan in color, thick and long lasting. The glass is left with thick lacing. Smell: It has a very roasted and malty aroma. Dark bready and sweet notes jump right out of the glass. Taste / Palate: It starts with sweet dark bready maltiness and then it adds mild coffee and molasses notes. The finish brings some earthy hops flavor and mild bitterness.

My recent forays to NorVA and WASDC have enabled me to stop in at Total Wine & More stores in those areas, which is where this beer came from.

From the bottle: “Made in Farmville, North Carolina”; “Proudly hand made in small batches”; “The Dark Beer Specialist”.

Once more, I heard a hissing when Pop!ping the cap, so either it had a snake in there or it was heavily carbonated. As I began even the gentlest of pours, it quickly became obvious that the latter was the case. The four-plus (!) fingers of light-tan head were dense and long-lasting, adding to my frustration. It just sat there like a dollop of coffee ice cream, refusing to fall and evidencing great retention. Color was Black/Opaque (SRM =44) with NE-quality clarity and garnet highlights. Nose had a rich coffee-like bitterness along with a dark chocolatiness. Mouthfeel was kind of thin and watery, despite all of its carbonation. The taste was very evocative of a dark chocolate candy bar! Dark chocolate, coffee-like bitterness and even a charcoal smokiness made up the taste in this one. Finish was dry, bitter, kind of like powdered cocoa.

The beer is black in color and just barely allows light to penetrate it. A fingernail thin khaki colored head rests on top. Aroma of dark malt,chocolate,and a bit of black licorice. The taste is of chocolate and dark wheat with an edge of bitterness in the front of the palate. The fade is sweet dark malt. The mouth is slightly sticky from the malt.

Poured on-tap and served in a shaker pint, the beer is a dark brown-to-black coloring, with ruby highlights, and a thin, off-white halo of head. Nose of subtle smoke and char, richly sweet nut and earthy tones in the backbone. Flavors are an earthy and smoky blast forward, with bitter coffee and bittersweet chocolate in the backbone. Smoke and peat permeate every sip, on a slick, light body. The aftertaste is very bittersweet, with a solid, subtle, smoked linger. Slick, solid, lingering finish. Very well crafted, balanced brew.